Switch operating mechanism



Aug' 29, 1933- b w. H. DODDRIDGE I 1,924,351

SWITCH OPERAT ING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 16, 1931 INVENTOR M1. T0?. HopofP/osf ATTORN EYJ Patented Aug. 29, 1933 PATENT ori-'ica f UNITED STATES.

mi swrrcn omarmd uacnamsu -wuur amarrage. merma-om um um 1s, mi. ser-w No. siam l z clam. (c1. zoo-nz) My invention relates to a switch mechanism -housing and operating means for a toggle type l weatherproof housing for the operating parts of an ordinary toggle switch mechanism together with improved means for actuating the throwing arm of the switch for operating means operated from the exterior of the housing; to provide an operating mechanism for a toggle switch operating lever wherein substantially no component forceswill be exerted against the switch operating lever except in the ordinary direction of movement of such lever, and only insofar as to move the lever to suchposition that completion of the movement initiated will take place independently of the lever operating means; and to provide a strong and durable mechanism thatv is relatively simple and inexpensive.

Various .other objects and advantageous features of my invention will be seen in the following description and one embodiment thereof may be seen in the accompanying drawing wherein similar charactersl of reference designate corresponding parts, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a topvplan view of a weather-proof switch mechanism housing with switch operating means on the outside thereof; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1, diagrammatically showing a usual form of toggle switch mechanism; Fig. 3 is an end view of the apparatus shown in Fig. l and 2; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the means for making an operative connection between the manually operated means extending outside of the weather-proof housing and the usual toggle switch operating lever.

, Referring to the drawing, I have shown one embodiment of my invention as comprising a weather-proof housing embodying a hollow base l having one open side and adapted tov receive a switch, mechanism 2 of the toggle type. That is, the switch mechanism is of a type including .an actuator and a spring means, for example, a spring 3 so constructed that movement of the actuator to one side of the vertical center line will result in continued movement of the switch contact arms 4 into or out of operative engagement with switch contacts 5. Of course, there may be only Aone switch contact arm 4 adapted to connect two switch contacts 5; Such switch mechanism is supported in the base of the housing by means of supporting arms 6 that rest within depressions 'l in the top surface of the base 1 and are secured therein by means of 'screws 8 or any other suitable means. The base portion 1 is also .the arcuate movement of the member 20 about provided with an internally threaded circular extension 9 and is adapted to receive the threaded end of a conduit 10 containing current conducting wires which are connected to the various contacts 5 of the switch mechanism.

As shown, a hollow cover 11 is provided for the base portion 1, the cover being preferably domeshaped and provided with a ange 12 around its outermost edge that cooperates with an upwardly extending portion 13 on the top of the base por- 65 tion 1 so as to eliminate possibility or relative horizontal movement of the base cover when they are in cooperative relation. lA suitable washer or gasket 14 provides a means for obtaining a weather tight seal between the cover and theV base `and. such cover and base are secured together against vertical movement by means of screw bolts 15.

A shaft 16 having a handle 17 thereon extends laterally 'through the cover 11 by way of I5v a packing box 18, the shaft being preferably journalled in the interior wall of the'cover as at 19 and being located closer to the top ofthe cover 11 than to the bottom thereof tlat rests on the base portion l. Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, 80 a swingable toggle switch lever throwing member 20, that 'is substantially parabolic but may be of any desired shape so long as it is of a contour to permit free movement of the switch lever, that extends upwardly into the cover and has its free end disposed `between the 'adjacent free ends of the member 20, without 'interference with the inner walls thereof and to permit its adjacent free ends to be relatively wide and substantially parallel with each other and its transverse center line, is rigidly mounted at its crotch portion on the shaft 16 by means of a pin 21 and is therefore adapted to be swung in an arcuate path by rotation of the shaft, the shaft being located sumciently above the bottom of the cover to permit such swinging of the member 20 without interference from the top of the base portion of the housing or top of the toggle mechanism, being parallel to the lopen side of the base portion of the housing, and being located to move in the plane of motion of the usual switch operating lever. Suitable stops 22 are provided on the inner wall of the dome-shaped cover to limit the shaft 16. In operative position, the adjacent free parallel ends 23 of the members 20 are disposed on opposite sides of the pivotally mounted operating handle or lever onthe switch mechanism that includes two separate parts 24 andl 25 and whose movement about its pivot in one direclles ^ switch'actuating lever when the switch is in full operated or .n fullunoperated position. j In, this manner, shocks or undue pressure on the switch parts is practically eliminated. I In the operation of this device, it being understood that the switch mechanism 2 is of the-well known toggle switch type, movement ofthe han-y dles 17 in either one direction ori the other will cause swinging of the member 20 about the pivot at its crotch portion and eitherone or. the other of the adjacent free parallel ends 23 thereof to engage one side or the other of the switch operating lever that includes the spaced members 24 and 25 across the entire surface or surfaces of the lever and move the lever or'handle about its point of pivotal mounting in either one direction or the other until the operating lever, with its free end disposed in the space 27 provided by the curvature of the arms of the member 20, just passes the vertical center line of the switch whereupon the operating lever will be moved to one extreme position or the other by the action of the spring 3 without further contact between the member 20 and the switch operating lever, the member 20 continuing to move until it abuts against one of the stops 22 as shown in Fig. 2. These stops serve to prevent positive pressure being exerted on the switch lever by the member 20 to move the y lever past the position it assumes when the switch is thrown to extreme position and thereby prevents breakage or distortion of the parts. As is well understood in switch mechanism of this type, movement of the switch operating lever or handle in opposite directions about its pivot will cause theswitch mechanism 2 to be placed eitherin operative or in inoperative position.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that I have provided a weather-proof housing for a switch mechanism of the well known toggle switch type together with means for moving the operating lever of the switch mechanism about its usualpivotal mounting to such position that i the contactors of the switch will be thrown either into or out of operative relation with the contacts'of the switch mechanism, this being accomplished without unnecessary shocks or pressure be'in'gexerted on the switch mechanism after it .'Apparatusof the character described, comprising a hollow housing having an open side and has reached operative or inoperative position due to the means for limiting the movement o! the lever operating member to positions shortof the limits of throw of the lever, and also without twisting stress on the operating lever or handle due to the Swinging movement of the. operating lmember in the cover about its pivotal point at its crotch portion. The device is particularly advantageous in thatit is adapted for use with an ordinary"to ggle switch type of fswitch mechanism and ,does not require that such switch mechanism be constructed especially for use with the housing.

What I claim is:

adapted to receive a toggle switch with its pivoted operating lever projecting outwardly through said open' side and limited in its throw from one extreme position to the other to produce on and off positions of the toggle' switch, land a hollow cover therefor carrying actuating means for said` lever includinga shaft extending through the cover wall and provided exteriorly thereof with shaft operating means and interiorly thereof with an operating member for the lever including forkedv arms for straddling such lever, said lever operatingmember being movable by' oscillation of said shaft and in the same plane of movement with the lever, and stop devices for said lever operating member located on the inside of `said cover and having abutment surfaces 1ocated to limit the throw of said member to positions short of the limits of throw of the lever.

2. Apparatus of the character described, oomprising a hollow housing having an open side and adapted to receive a toggle switch with its operating lever projecting outwardly through said open side, and a hollow domeshaped cover therefor carrying actuating means for said lever including an oscillatable shaft parallel to the plane of said open side and extending transversely to said cover and to the plane of motion of said lever and lying nearer to the top of the cover than to its bottom, and alever operating member fixed to the shaft within the cover and including arms extending oppositely from the shaft and then curved toward each other to present spaced opposing free ends for straddling the lever, said member being located to move in the planeof motion of said lever, and stop means on the inner surface of the cover for engaging the arms and limiting motion of said member.

WALTER H. DoDDRmGE. 

